Ephrata Cloister welcomes new choral director

Historic Ephrata Cloister is pleased to announce that Martin Hinkley has been selected to direct the Ephrata Cloister Chorus.

Hinkley brings with him a strong background in music and music history. He holds a bachelor of science in music education from Millersville University and a master of music arts in music history from West Chester University.

He shares his love of music through teaching vocal and instrumental music to students K-12 as well as adults. He has taught in Arizona, as well as locally, at Manheim Township School District and currently is a substitute music teacher in seven Lancaster County School Districts.

A vocal student of the late Dorothy Rose Smith and Walter Blackburn, Hinkley has performed with the Reading Choral Society, the Lancaster Opera Company and the Lancaster Chamber Singers. In addition, Hinkley has played with many local concert bands and currently plays a cornet in the popular Lancaster British Brass Band.

Formerly the choral director at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Adamstown, Hinkley is currently the director of choirs at Glossbrenner United Methodist Church in Mount Joy.

“I am much honored to have been selected to this position,” said Hinkley when asked about directing the chorus at Ephrata Cloister. “I look forward to working with the volunteer singers of the chorus to present the unique music written at Ephrata in the 18th century. We will continue to encourage new singers to audition for membership in the chorus.”

The public is invited to meet Hinkley March 9 when he directs the chorus in three concerts in the historic Meetinghouse (The Saal) at 2, 3, and 4 p.m. Following the last concert, the Ephrata Cloister Associates Board of Directors is hosting a welcoming reception in the Visitors’ Center.

Anyone interested in auditioning for the chorus should contact Cathie Oliphant at 336-3030.